Continuous centrifugal with adjustable liquids separator



1%? T. R. LAVEN 3,02,74

CONTINUOUS CENTRIFUGAL WITH ADJUSTABLE LIQUIDS SEPARATOR Filed Oct. 30,1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVE'NTOR THOMAS H LAVEN Feb. 7, 1967 T. R. LAVEN3,302,794

CONTINUOUS CENTRIFUGAL WITH ADJUSTABLE LIQUIDS SEPARATOR Filed Oct. 50,1964 5 $h$9t$-$het 2 quumumm INVENTOR THOMAS R. L AVEN Y ATTOR Y T. R.LAVEN Feb. 7, 19%? CONTINUOUS GENTRIFUGAL WITH ADJUSTABLE LIQUIDSSEPARATGR Filed Oct. 30, 1,964

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR THOMAS R- LAVEN United States Patent v 3302,794 CONTINUOUS CENTRIFUGAL WITH ADJUST- ABLE HQUHDS SEPARATOR ThomasR. Laven, Hamilton, Ohio, assignor to The Western States MachineCompany, Hamilton, Ohio, a

corporation of Utah Filed Oct. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 407,645 6 Claims. (Cl.210-369) This invention relates generally to continuous centrifugals,'and is particularly directed to improvements in continuous centrifugalsfor the separation of solids and liquids, for example, the separation ofsugar crystals from syrups during the manufacturing of sugar.

Continuous centrifugals have been provided, particularly for theseparation of sugar crystals from syrups in the manufacturing of sugar,which include a rotated frusto-conical basket having a perforatecircumferential wall and into which a mixture of liquids and solids, forexample, m'assecuite, is fed adjacent the small diameter end of thebasket for continuous travel toward the large diameter end under theinfluence of centrifugal force. A cylindrical casing wall concentricallysurrounds the basket and has one end proximate to the large diameter endof the basket to define a liquids receiving chamber around the basket,and an outer curb wall is spaced from the casing wall to definetherebetween a chamber for receiving solids discharged over the largediameter end of the basket. When the foregoing centrifugal is used inthe manufacture of sugar, wash water is sprayed against the materialtravelling along the perforate wall toward the large diameter end of thebasket so that the liquids passing through the perforate wall adjacentthe small diameter end of the basket consist essentially of green syrup,and the liquidspassing through the perforate wall adjacent the largediameter end of the basket consists essentially of wash syrup.

It is an object of this invention to provide a continuous centrifugal ofthe described character with an adjustable separator for selectivelyseparating liquids driven centrifugally through respective portions ofthe perforate wall of the basket, for example, for separating the greensyrup from the wash syrup during the manufacture of sugar.

Another object is to provide an adjustable separator for a continuouscentrifugal of the described character which separator is simple inconstruction and operates reliably even under the adverse conditionsnormally encountered within the centrifugal.

In accordance with this invention, a cylindrical partition is arrangedconcentrically within the liquids receiving chamber to divide the latterinto radially inner and outer compartments, and such partition has afixed section located between the casing wall and the small diameter endportion of the basket and a movable section in telescopic relation withthe fixed section so that adjusting the axial position of the movablesection relative to the fixed section varies the effective extent of thepartition from the small diameter end toward the large diameter end ofthe basket and thereby changes the relative extents along the perforatewall of the portions of the latter through which liquids pass into theinner and outer compartments, respectively, from which the separatedliquids are drained by fixed conduits extending from the inner and outercompartments at the opposite sides of the fixed section of thepartition; and a mechanism connected with the movable cylindricalsection at locations spaced angularly thereabout holds that section at agiven axial position and has elements extending to the exterior of thecurb wall of the machine for operation to adjust the 'axial position ofthe movable section whenever desired. This mechanism includes pulleyswhich are rotatably supported in the outer compartment of the liquidsreceiving chamber at locations spaced apart uniformly around thecylindrical partition, and a cable is wrapped on each pulley and has itsopposite ends secured to the movable section of the partition atvertically spaced locations so as to effect the axial positioning of themovable section in response to turning of the pulleys, for example, bymanipulation of levers located at the exterior of the curb wall andconnected to the pulleys by shafts extending thereto.

The movable section of the partition preferably is made up of inner andouter concentric, spaced apart shells which are joined together at theirupper ends to define an annular space opening downwardly therebetweenand receiving the fixed section of the partition, thereby to detersplashing or other transfer of liquids between the inner and outercompartments through gaps or clearances between the fixed and movablesections of the partition.

While specific reference is made herein to the use of the invention inthe manufacture of sugar, it will be evident that centrifugal machinesembodying the invention have various other industrial uses as in themanufacture of finely divided chemicals or wherever finely dividedsolids are to be separated centrifugally from a liquid and washed freeof adherent liquid in the course of the separation.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention,will be apparent in the following detailed description of anillustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in connection withthe accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical, axial sectional view of a continuous centrifugalhaving an adjustable liquids separator in accordance with thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the v line 2-2 on FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 on FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 44 on FIG. 1,but on a reduced scale;

FIG. 5 is a detail view showing the actuating means by which the liquidsseparator is adjusted, and as seen in the direction of the arrows 5-5 onFIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is 'an enlarged detail sectional view taken along the line 6-6 onFIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the means by whichthe partition of the separator is adjusted, with the movable section ofthe partition shown in its uppermost or extended position; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7, but showing the movablesection in its lowermost or retracted position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2thereof, it will be seen that the present invention is there shownembodied in a continuous centrifugal 10 having its basket 11 rotatedabout a vertical axis. The basket 11 has a circumferential wall 12 whichI is generally of frusto-conical configuration with its largest diameterat the top. The wall 12 is of perforate construction, for example, asdisclosed in the co-pending application for US. Letters Patentidentified as Serial No. 356,763, filed April 2, 1964, and through whichliquids can pass under the influence of centrifugal force. A central hub13 projects upwardly from the bottom of basket 11 and is secured on theupper end of a vertical shaft 14 which is journalled in bearings withina housing 15. The lower end of housing 15 is carried by suspensions 16which are, in turn, supported by an annular horizontal plate 17, forexample, as disclosed in the copending application for US. LettersPatent identified as Serial No. 368,615 filed May 19, 1964.

The centrifugal 10 has an outer curb wall structure 18 that includes anupper section or cover 19 and a base section 20 secured together atmating flanges 21. The annular plate 17 is welded or otherwise securedto the top edges of pairs of vertical, parallel spaced apart plates 22which extend radially inward from the lower section 21 of the curb walland which are equally angularly spaced apart, as shown particularly onFIG. 4. The lower edges of each pair of plates 22 are joined by ahorizontal web or bottom plate 23 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4), and the radiallyinner ends of all of the plates 22 are further joined to a ring 24(FIGS. 1 and 4) defining an access opening under the suspensions 16which is normally closed by a cover plate 25.

A cylindrical casing wall 26 is made up of upper and lower sections 27and 28 joined together at mating flanges 29, and the lower section 28extends upwardly from, and is welded or otherwise secured to the outerperiphery of annular plate 17. The upper end edge of casing wall 26extends closely proximate to a rim structure 30 at the upper or largediameter end of basket 11 so that an annular solids receiving chamber 31is defined between curb wall 18 and casing wall 26 and an annularliquids receiving chamber 32 is defined above annular plate 17 betweencasing Wall 26 and the circumferential wall 12 of the basket.

The lower or small diameter end of basket 11 has a cylindrical skirt 33depending therefrom and spaced radially outward from the adjacentrelatively small diameter end portion of the side wall of the basket todefine an annular, downwardly opening space 34, and an upstandingcylindrical wall 35 extends along the inner periphery of annular plate17 and projects upwardly into the annular space 34 to define the innermargin of liquids receiving chamber 32 adjacent the bottom of thelatter.

Rotation of the basket 11 may be effected by a motor 36 mounted on abase 37 which projects radially outward from lower curb wall section 20substantially in line with one of the pairs of plates 22, as shown onFIG. 4. The shaft of motor 36 drives a pulley 38 which is engaged bybelts 39 passing between the plates 22 which are substantially in linewith the base 37 and running around a pulley 40 secured to the lower endof shaft 14 below bearing housing 15.

The mixture of solids and liquids to be separated by the centrifugal 10is fed into basket 11 through an infeed pipe 41 (FIGS. 1 and 2) whichextends downwardly into the basket and opens adjacent the lower or smalldiameter end of the latter. During rotation of basket 11 centrifugalforce acts on the mixture continuously fed to the basket adjacent thesmall diameter end of the latter to cause movement of the mixture alongcircumferential wall 12 of the basket in the direction toward the largediameter end of the latter, that is, in the upward direction. As themixture moves upwardly along wall 12, centrifugal force causes theliquid constituents of the mixture to pass radially outward throughperforate wall 12 into liquids receiving chamber 32, and the solids fromwhich the liquids have been extracted pass radially outward over rimstructure 30 at the large diameter end of the basket into the solidsreceiving chamber 31. In order to avoid passage of liquids from chamber32 into solids receiving chamber 31 through the necessary gap orclearance between rim structure 36 of the rotated basket and the fixedor stationary casing 26, cylindrical, concentric baffles 42 and 43 aresupported from the upper section 27 of casing 26, as by radial webs 44,and have inwardly bent upper edges between which there extends anannular rib 45 depending from the underside of rim structure 30 to forma serpentine seal.

When the liquid constituents of the mixture tend to adhere to thesolids, the adhering liquids can be removed from the solids as thelatter travel upwardly along wall 12 of basket 11 by wash water suppliedthrough a pipe 46 extending downwardly into the basket and terminatingin a perforated manifold 47 extending parallel to the perforate wall forspraying water against the solids. When the mixture fed to basket 11through infeed pipe 41 is massecuite, that is, a mixture of sugarcrystals and syrups, the liquids passing through the lower portion ofperforate wall 12 into chamber 32 are essentially green syrup, and theliquids passing through the upper portion of perforate wall 12 are washsyrup, that is, the wash water sprayed against the sugar crystals frommanifold 47 and the vestiges of the syrup removed from the sugarcrystals by such wash water.

In accordance with this invention, the above described centrifugal It)is provided with an adjustable separator 48 which is operative toseparate the green syrup or other liquids passing through apredetermined lower portion of perforate wall 12 from the wash syrup orother liquids passing through the remaining upper portion of the basketwall. The adjustable separator 48 includes a cylindrical partition 49arranged concentrically within the liquids receiving chamber 32 todivide the latter into radially inner and outer compartments 50 and 51,respectively. The partition 49 is made up of a fixed cylindrical section52 extending upwardly from annular plate 17 substantially midway betweenthe lower section 28 of easing wall 26 and the small diameter or lowerend portion of basket 11, and a movable cylindrical section 53 which isin telescopic relation to the fixed section 52. The movable section 53of the partition is preferably made up of inner and outer concentric,spaced apart shells 54 and 55 which are joined together at their upperends by a ring 56 to define an annular space 57 opening downwardlybetween shells 54 and 55 and receiving the fixed section 52 of thepartitition. The extension of fixed partition section 52 into space 57forms a serpentine seal for preventing splashing or other transfer ofliquids between the inner and outer compartments 50 and 51 through thenecessary gaps or clearances between the fixed and movable sections ofpartition 49.

In order to effect vertical or axial movement of section 53 relative tofixed section 52, a number of pulleys 58, for example, three pulleys asshown on FIG. 2, are spaced apart equally around the partition 48 andare mounted on the inner ends of shafts 59. The shafts 59 are journalledin tubes 60 extending radially, with respect to the axis of basket 11,through casing wall 26 and curb wall 18 and being secured to such wallsas by welding. The several tubes 60 are positioned above and centeredwith respect to the pairs of plates 22. A steel cable 61 is wrapped oneach pulley 58 and, as shown particularly on FIGS. 7 and 8, the oppositeends of each cable 61 are respectively secured to brackets 62 and 63extending outwardly from movable partition section 53 at verticallyspaced apart locations, for example, at the ring 56 forming the top ofsection 53 and at the bottom edge of the outer shell 55. It will beapparent that, when shafts 59 and pulleys 58 are turned in one directionor the other, the wrap of cables 61 on the pulleys will cause eitherupward or downward movement of partition section 53 relative to the axesof rotation of the pulleys, and hence relative to fixed partitionsection 52.

In order to permit turning of pulleys 58 from the outside of curb wall18, the outer ends of shafts 59 project from tubes 60 and are eachsecured to a lever or handle 64 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 6).

Secured to the mating flanges 21 of curb wall sections 19 and 20 abovethe outer ends of shafts 59 are quadrant brackets 65. Each quadrantbracket includes an inner sector plate 66 projecting upwardly from amounting flange 67 and an arcuate guide 68 secured, at its ends, tosector plate 66 so as to be spaced outwardly from the latter and permitthe slidable extension of the related lever 64 therebetween. Each lever64 has a boss 69 (FIG. 6) formed intermediate its ends and having atapped hole receiving a set screw 70 with a knurled head. It will beapparent that the set screw 70 can be tightened to bear against thesector plate 65 and thereby lock the lever 64 in any desired positionwithin the quadrant bracket 65. Further, when set screw 70 is loosened,lever 64 can be angularly displaced within the related quadrant bracketto similarly turn the related shaft 59 and pulley 58 for effectingvertical displacement of movable partition section 53. As shown on FIG.5, the arcuate guide 68 of the quadrant bracket may be provided with ascale which is calibrated to cooperate with an index on the lever 64 forindicating the vertical position of movable partition section 53relative to fixed section 52.

As shown particularly on FIGS. 2 and 3, sloping plates 69 convergeupwardly from the top edges of each pair of plates 22 between curb wall18 and casing wall 26 and come together above the tube 60 which iscentered with respect to that pair of plates 22. Thus, each pair ofplates 22, the web 23 extending between the bottom edges thereof, theannular plate 17 extending over the inner portions of the plates 22 andthe converging plates 69 extending from the outer portions of the plates22 cooperate to define a tunnel-like structure 70 extending radiallyinward from the curb wall and opening -at the center of the centrifugalunder the basket. The solids are discharged downwardly from chamber 31through the gaps 71 defined between the tunnel-like structures 70, andan inwardly inclined deflector 72 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4) extends from curbwall 18 within each gap 71 to direct the discharged solids towards thecenter under the centrifugal.

The liquids collected in compartments 50 and 51 are respectivelydischarged from such compartments through ducts 73 and 74 (FIGS. 2 and4) which open through annular plate 17 at the inner and outer sides,respectively, of fixed partition section 52, and which extend downwardlyfrom annular plate 17 and then outwardly through one of the tunnel-likestructures 70. The outer ends of discharge ducts 73 and 74 projectthrough curb wall 18 and have flanges 75 and 76 (FIG. 4) for connectionto suitable piping.

It will be seen that the tubes 60 housing shafts 59 of pulleys 58, thedrive belts 39 for rotating the basket 11, and the liquid dischargeducts 73 and 74 are all housed in the tunnel-like structures 70 so as toavoid interference with the downward discharge of solids from the outerchamber 31.

During operation of centrifugal 10, liquids passing outwardly throughthe lower portion of perforate wall 12 below the level of the top edgeof partition 49 and being centrifugally propelled away from wall 12 areintercepted by the partition and collected in the inner compartment 50,while liquids passing through the upper portion of perforate wall 12above the level of the top edge of partition 49 are collected in theouter compartment 51. Thus, partition 49 is effective to separate theliquids discharge-d radially through the lower and upper portions ofperforate wall 12 and such separated liquids are then drained from therespective compartment 50 and 51 through the discharge ducts 73 and 74,respectively. The portions of the wall 12 through which liquids passinto the compartments 50 and 51, respectively, can be changed, evenduring operation of the centrifugal, merely by suitably turning thehandles or levers 64 so as to raise or lower movable section 53 ofpartition 49 and thereby alter the level of the top edge of thepartition. Thus, when centrifugal 10 is employed during the manufactureof sugar for separating the sugar crystals from the syrups contained inmassecuite fed into the basket 11 through infeed pipe 41, the movablesection 53 of partition 49 can be adjusted to ensure that the liquidscollected in compartment 50 consist essentially of green syrup, and thatthe liquids collected in the outer compartment 51 consist essentially ofthe wash syrup.

Since adjustment of the separator 48 merely involves raising andlowering the level of the upper edge of partition 49 disposed betweenthe concentric radially inner and outer compartments 50 and 51 havingfixed bottoms defined by the plate 17, such adjustment can be easilyaccomplished by simple mechanisms, as shown, and does not requiremovement of the discharge ducts 73 and 74 opening through plate 17.

Although an illustrative embodiment of this invention has been describedin detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is tobe understood that the invention is not limited to that preciseembodiment, and that various changes and modifications may be effectedtherein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope orspirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a continuous centrifugal including a basket rotatable on avertical axis and having a perforate, frustoconical circumferential wallincreasing in diameter toward the upper end of the basket, means forfeeding a mixture of solids and liquid into the basket for travelupwardly along the perforate wall under the influence of centrifugalforce, a cylindrical casing wall concentrically surrounding the basketand having its upper end proximate to the upper end of the basket todefine a liquids receiving chamber around the basket, and an outer curbwall spaced from said casing wall to define therebetween a chamber forreceiving solids which are discharged over said upper end of the basket;a separator for selectively separating liquids driven centrifugal-1ythrough lower and upper portions of said perforate wall of the basketcomprising a cylindrical partition extending upwardly, and arrangedconcentrically within said liquids receiving chamber to divide thelatter into radially inner and outer compartments which receive theliquids passing through the portions of said perforate wall respectivelybelow and above an upper edge of said partition, said partition having afixed section between said casing wall and the lower end portion of thebasket and a movable section in telescopic relation with said fixedsection and defining said upper edge of the partition, means foradjusting the vertical position of said movable section relative to saidfixed section to vary the height of said upper edge and thereby changethe portions of said perforate wall through which liquids drain intosaid inner and outer compartments, respectively, and conduits extendingfrom said inner and outer compartments at the bottom of the latter fordraining liquids from the respective compartments, said means foradjusting the vertical position of said movable section includingpulleys rotatably supported at locations spaced apart around saidpartition, a cable wrapped on each of said pulleys and having itsopposite ends secured to said movable section at vertically spacedlocations on the latter, and means for controlling the rotationalpositions of said pulleys.

2. A continuous centrifugal as in claim 1, each said pulley beingmounted at the inner end of a shaft extending outward therefrom to theexterior of said curb wall, said means for controlling the rotationalpositions of said pulleys including a manually actuable lever on theouter end of each said shaft, and releasable clamping means for holdingeach lever in angularly adjusted position.

3. A continuous centrifugal as in claim 2; further comprising angularlyspaced tunnels extending radially inward across said solids receivingchamber and under said liquids receiving chamber, said shaft of eachsaid pulley prising drive means for the basket extending through oneextending through a respective one of said tunnels. of said tunnels fromthe exterior of said curb wall.

4. A continuous centrifugal as in claim 1; further comprising angu-larlyspaced tunnels extending radially in- Refel'fllcfls Cited y the ExaminerWard from said curb wall across said solids receiving 5 UNITED STATESPATENTS chamber and under said liquids receiving chamber; said means foradjusting the vertical position of said movable 2,145,633 1/1939 Roberts210 368 X section being actuable from the exterior of said curb wall3,226,257 12/1965 Steele et a1 210*378 X and extending through saidtunnels to said movable sec- FOREIGN PATENTS 10 108,874 3/1900 Germany.

5. A continuous centrifugal as in claim 4; wherein said conduits extendfrom said compartments through one of REUBEN FRIEDMAN, Primary Examiner.said tunnels to the exterior of said curb wall.

6. A continuous centrifugal as in claim 4; further corn- JAMES DECESARE, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A CONTINUOUS CENTRIFUGAL INCLUDING A BASKET ROTATABLE ON AVERTICAL AXIS AND HAVING A PERFORATE, FRUSTOCONICAL CIRCUMFERENTIAL WALLINCREASING IN DIAMETER TOWARD THE UPPER END OF THE BASKET, MEANS FORFEEDING A MIXTURE OF SOLIDS AND LIQUID INTO THE BASKET FOR TRAVELUPWARDLY ALONG THE PERFORATE WALL UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF CENTRIFUGALFORCE, A CYLINDRICAL CASING WALL CONCENTRICALLY SURROUNDING THE BASKETAND HAVING ITS UPPER END PROXIMATE TO THE UPPER END OF THE BASKET TODEFINE A LIQUIDS RECEIVING CHAMBER AROUND THE BASKET, AND AN OUTER CURBWALL SPACED FROM SAID CASING WALL TO DEFINE THEREBETWEEN A CHAMBER FORRECEIVING SOLIDS WHICH ARE DISCHARGED OVER SAID UPPER END OF THE BASKET;A SEPARATOR FOR SELECTIVELY SEPARATING LIQUIDS DRIVEN CENTRIFUGALLYTHROUGH LOWER AND UPPER PORTIONS OF SAID PERFORATE WALL OF THE BASKETCOMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL PARTITION EXTENDING UPWARDLY, AND ARRANGEDCONCENTRICALLY WITHIN SAID LIQUIDS RECEIVING CHAMBER TO DIVIDE THELATTER INTO RADIALLY INNER AND OUTER COMPARTMENTS WHICH RECEIVE THELIQUIDS PASSING THROUGH THE PORTIONS OF SAID PERFORATE WALL RESPECTIVELYBELOW AND ABOVE AN UPPER EDGE OF SAID PARTITION, SAID PARTITION HAVING AFIXED SECTION BETWEEN SAID CASING WALL AND THE LOWER END PORTION OF THEBASKET AND A MOVABLE SECTION IN TELESCOPIC RELATION WITH SAID FIXEDSECTION AND DEFINING SAID UPPER EDGE OF THE PARTITION, MEANS FORADJUSTING THE VERTICAL POSITION OF SAID MOVABLE SECTION RELATIVE TO SAIDFIXED SECTION TO VARY THE HEIGHT OF SAID UPPER EDGE AND THEREBY CHANGETHE PORTIONS OF SAID PERFORATE WALL THROUGH WHICH LIQUIDS DRAIN INTOSAID INNER AND OUTER COMPARTMENTS, RESPECTIVELY, AND CONDUITS EXTENDINGFROM SAID INNER AND OUTER COMPARTMENTS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LATTER FORDRAINING LIQUIDS FROM THE RESPECTIVE COMPARTMENTS, SAID MEANS FORADJUSTING THE VERTICAL POSITION OF SAID MOVABLE SECTION INCLUDINGPULLEYS ROTATABLY SUPPORTED AT LOCATIONS SPACED APART AROUND SAIDPARTITION, A CABLE WRAPPED ON EACH OF SAID PULLEYS AND HAVING ITSOPPOSITE ENDS SECURED TO SAID MOVABLE SECTION AT VERTICALLY SPACEDLOCATIONS ON THE LATTER, AND MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE ROTATIONALPOSITIONS OF SAID PULLEYS.